Military Organisation

Question 1

How was the Krypteia chosen?

Answer 1

The strongest graduates from the Agoge were chosen to serve for a period of time.

Question 2

Who were the Krypteia?

Answer 2

They were the Spartan secret police.

Question 3

What did the Krypteia do?

Answer 3

Sent out into the countryside of Laconia and Messenia, where they were given minimal rations so that they had to live off the land.

Question 4

During the day what did the Krypteia?

Answer 4

They would lie low.

Question 5

What did the Krypteia do in the night?

Answer 5

They patrolled the land.

Question 6

What were the Krypteia encouraged to do?

Answer 6

To kill any helot they thought presented a danger to Sparta.

Question 7

In order to gain full citizenship what did young Spartans have to do?

Answer 7

After leaving the Agoge, he had to be elected into a dining club, known as a syssition.

Question 8

What is typical of a syssition?

Answer 8

Had 15 members and they were expected to eat together every night.

Question 9

When on campaign what did syssition do?

Answer 9

Shared a tent together.

Question 10

How was someone elected into a syssition?

Answer 10

Each current member was allowed to vote on a new candidate by dropping a ball of bread into an urn.

Question 11

How could a member be rejected?

Answer 11

The member would squeeze his ball of bread flat.

Question 12

What did you have to do once elected as a member?

Answer 12

Had to provide a fixed quota of rations from his farm each month.

Question 13

What did syssitions do?

Answer 13

Bred comradeship and guaranteed equality between all citizens.

Question 14

Why were they the most feared army in the Greek world?

Answer 14

They spent their whole life training for war.

Question 15

How did the phalanx formation work?

Answer 15

Rectangular formation of soldier in rows and columns, each column was usually eight rows deep.

Question 16

What happened on the front row of the phalanx?

Answer 16

The soldiers advanced together at the same pace, with their shields raised in their left hands; each soldier therefore relied on the shield of the man to his right to protect his right side.

Question 17

What happened when the enemy was met in phalanx?

Answer 17

Each soldier thrust forward a long spear into the lines of the opposing soldiers.

Question 18

What happened when a man in the front row fell?

Answer 18

The next man in the column behind him stepped forward to take his place.

Question 19

What did a successful phalanx require?

Answer 19

Each soldier to know his place and to stand his ground in company with his colleagues.

Question 20

Why was music important for Sparta’s military success?

Answer 20

It was central to the phalanx, as orders were communicated not by shouting but by a piper playing different tunes.

Question 21

What were heavily armed soldier in the phalanx called?

Answer 21

Hoplites.

Question 22

What was the offensive weapon used?

Answer 22

Long spear.

Question 23

Why did the hoplite also carried a short sword?

Answer 23

He would use it if he lost his spear or fought at close quarters.

Question 24

Describe the cloak worn?

Answer 24

Crimson robe. Buried in this cloak, it was red so it could hide any blood.

Question 25

Describe the tunic?

Answer 25

A basic item which they wore under their corselet.

Question 26

Describe shoes worn?

Answer 26

Leather boots worn in battle.

Question 27

Describe the hair?

Answer 27

Wore their hair long, it was believed that this made them larger in stature and more frightening.

Question 28

Describe the spear?

Answer 28

About three metres in length, main weapon of the phalanx.

Question 29

Describe the shield?

Answer 29

It was round and inscribed with the letter L signifying Lacedaemonia, another term for Sparta.

Question 30

Describe the corselet?

Answer 30

Made of bronze and protected the torso.

Question 31

Describe the helmet?

Answer 31

Plume, it gave great protection although it made vision and hearing difficult.

Question 32

Describe the knee greaves?

Answer 32

Used to protect a hoplite’s legs.

Question 33

Describe the sword?

Answer 33

This was used if the hoplite lost his spear he fought his energy at close quarters. It was hung on the right side of a belt around his waist.

Question 34

Describe what a Spartan warrior would have looked like?

Answer 34

Red cloak, emblem on the shield, plumed helmet, bare feet, combed long hair.

Question 35

Explain why the Spartans lost at Thermopylae?

Answer 35

• Xerxes sent heralds asking for the Spartans to give up their arms.
• Xerxes attacked but with heavy losses without any results.
• The Persians were only able to get through the Thermopylae pass with the help of Ephialtes.
• The Greeks realised they would soon be trapped from both sides.
• Only 300 Spartans were left at the pass.
• They fought bravely to the death, holding up the Persians for a few hours.
• However facing attack from the rear as well as the front, the Spartans were simply overwhelmed.

Question 36

Why were the Spartans usually successful?

Answer 36

• Intensive training from childhood.
• Support of the helots.
• Celebration of battle.
• Commitment to Sparta.
• Unity of tactics.

Question 37

Explain Spartan fighting methods?

Answer 37

• Phalanx formation with each man’s shield protecting half of the man next to him.
• Took the places of fallen comrades in the front line.
• Used spears swords.
• Wore red cloaks to maintain morale and intimidate the enemy.
• Sometimes pretended to retreat the to trick the enemy.
• Were trained to die rather than surrender so as to be victorious in battle.
• Used music to give instruction in battle for efficient communication.
• Allowed enemy to flee instead of fighting.

Question 38

What happened at Thermopylae?

Answer 38

• King Leonidas and only 300 men held back the massive Persian army of Xerxes at the narrow pass, which gave the rest of the Greeks time to prepare defense elsewhere.
• Use phalanx formation.
• Were betrayed by Ephialtes who told the Persians about another path.
• All Spartans fought to the death.

Question 39

Why was the army important to the survival of Sparta?

Answer 39

• Reputation was a deterrent and prevented invasion.
• Maintained their way of life and isolation so that they were not influenced by other cultures.
• Made sure they had enough food / wealth to live as they didn’t trade.
• Kept helots in check to prevent rebellion.
• The army was the society’s only protection because the Spartans did not have walls.